Snyder Fire Department

Snyder Fire Department Snyder Fire Department provides fire, rescue, and emergency services to approximately 20,000 residents within a six square miles radius in the Town of Amherst.

Snyder Fire Department provides fire, rescue, and emergency services to approximately 20,000 residents in a six square miles radius in the Town of Amherst. It is staffed by over 70 volunteers who respond to approximately 1200 calls per year. The main governing body of the Snyder Fire Department is referred to as the Snyder Fire District. It is a political sub-division of the State of New York and is governed by a five member Board of Fire Commissioners elected by residents of the Snyder Fire District.

Keeping with the training theme, on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, school was in session for our newest batch of Engine...
09/07/2026

Keeping with the training theme, on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, school was in session for our newest batch of Engine and Tower Ladder Chauffeurs. These new Chauffeurs trained on and practiced water supply operations, pumping from the Engine to the Truck, and flowing Master Stream Devices. Members were able to flow a large volume of water practicing skills learned throughout the summer driver training sessions.

Driving and operating the apparatus can seem challenging, however we have a progressive step program that runs each summer for new drivers to qualify. This allows members to start at the smaller Rescues used for Medical Calls, step up to the Heavy Rescue, then the Engines and Truck. Each step is progressively different and more challenging. At the Engine and Truck level, operations include much more than just driving. This is where mastery of the pump panel and Tower Operations begins.

These hands-on drills and evolutions are important to not only practice skills, but to also ensure equipment is working properly. It also allowed some of our Officers to compare and measure some key data on the amount of gallons flowed. These figures can help not only improve our training, but also inform our tactics and techniques when needed.

Friday Night Plans? Our Members Had Other Ideas.While many people were enjoying the great weather on Friday night, sever...
09/07/2026

Friday Night Plans? Our Members Had Other Ideas.

While many people were enjoying the great weather on Friday night, several of our younger members decided to spend theirs at the firehouse — on their own time, and entirely on their own initiative.

They took an engine out and spent the evening practicing ladder work, water flow, advancing hose lines, working together, and sharpening the skills they’ll need when the call comes in.

But perhaps even more importantly, there was a lot of learning shared between members. Questions were asked, techniques were discussed, and experience was passed from one firefighter to another.

No one told them they needed to train.
No one required them to show up.
They simply wanted to learn and get better.

That kind of initiative is something special — and it’s exactly the kind of attitude that makes a volunteer fire department stronger.

⚠️ Flash Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service
09/03/2026

⚠️ Flash Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service

On Wednesday night, September 2, as severe thunderstorms storms raced across Western New York, bringing with it a tremen...
09/03/2026

On Wednesday night, September 2, as severe thunderstorms storms raced across Western New York, bringing with it a tremendous lightning strikes, damaging winds, downed power lines, and loud thunder, Snyder Firefighters assisted the particularly hard hit Getzville Fire District as Mutual Aid. A crew of firefighters on Snyder Rescue 5 along with the Snyder Fire Department Second Assistant Chief responded as Mutual Aid to the Getzville Fire Company to assist with providing additional resources and support to assist residents in need of help. Snyder assisted at the scene of an emergency medical call, and a downed tree, and provided coverage from the Getzville Fire Station 1 on Dodge Road in Amherst as the powerful storm flashed numerous bolts of lightning in the sky, and the area was under a Tornado Warning. Once the warning expired crews returned to Snyder. Additional Snyder Firefighters stood-by at the Snyder Fire Department station on Main St ready to provide assistance to residents in our District as well. The storm seemed to isolate the heaviest range in the Getzville community. Crews worked with other Amherst Fire Companies under the unified incident command structure.

On Monday, August 31, Snyder Firefighters provided some fire prevention and safety training to the Resident Assistants a...
09/01/2026

On Monday, August 31, Snyder Firefighters provided some fire prevention and safety training to the Resident Assistants at Daemen University.

🚨🚒 𝗦𝗻𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 🚒🚨In August, the Snyder Fire Department responded to 102 calls for service, bringi...
09/01/2026

🚨🚒 𝗦𝗻𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 🚒🚨

In August, the Snyder Fire Department responded to 102 calls for service, bringing the 2026 total to 726 alarms.

Every call represents a moment where our members were ready to answer—day or night—to protect life and property. We are grateful for our community's continued support and proud of the work our members do every day on alarms, in training, and around the community.

08/26/2026

Commissioner O'Leary recently visited the Snyder Fire Department in Amherst and met with three inspiring young members of the team.

To recruit the next generation of volunteer firefighters, we must support them, which is exactly what our training stipend program is designed to do.

Learn more about the Volunteer Firefighter Stipend Program: www.dhses.ny.gov/new-york-state-volunteer-firefighter-stipend-program

Good reminders to think about as the days become shorter and your fall clean-ups start!!
08/26/2026

Good reminders to think about as the days become shorter and your fall clean-ups start!!

🚒 Wednesdays Are for Driver/Operator Training! 🚒Every July and August, our members hit the road—and the training ground—...
08/20/2026

🚒 Wednesdays Are for Driver/Operator Training! 🚒

Every July and August, our members hit the road—and the training ground—as part of our annual Driver/Operator Training Program.

Becoming a fire apparatus operator is a multi-year process designed to build knowledge, confidence, and experience one apparatus at a time. Members progress through a structured program:

🔹 Year 1 – Light Rescue Apparatus - Rescue 7 and Rescue 7-1: Members begin with our smaller rescue apparatus, learning the fundamentals of safe vehicle operation and apparatus systems as well as motor vehicle traffic laws for emergency vehicle operation.

🔹 Year 2 – Heavy Rescue - Rescue 5: Members advance to our heavy rescue, with an increased focus on maneuvering and operating larger apparatus, as well as learning its purpose and capabilities.

🔹 Year 3 – Engines 1, 2, and 3: Training moves to our engines, with a strong emphasis on pump operations, water supply, and fire suppression.

🔹 Year 4 – Truck 6: Members can advance to our aerial apparatus, where training includes driving, fire suppression, and the operation of the aerial ladder.

But earning the driver's seat takes more than simply learning how to drive a fire truck.

Our members spend approximately six weeks training with our officers, learning the fundamentals and developing the skills necessary to safely operate each apparatus. After that, they complete six additional training sessions with experienced preceptors before being approved as operators.

It's a significant commitment—and an important one. When the tones drop, our drivers/operators need to be ready to safely get the crew and apparatus where they need to be, while also knowing how to operate the equipment once they arrive.

Training today helps us be ready for the call tomorrow.

Part of our history has come back home. We are so excited to have the original Snyder Hose Company (our name before it w...
08/07/2026

Part of our history has come back home. We are so excited to have the original Snyder Hose Company (our name before it was changed to Snyder Fire Department in 1949) speaking trumpet back in our firehouse. The trumpet was given to us by Jim and Donna who stopped by the firehouse while visiting from Florida - their grandfather was Chief Shorty Ludwig who served as Chief of Department from 1941 until 1967 and their father Don Pirson also proudly served in Snyder from 1956 until leaving for Florida in the 1970's. Jim and Donna also gave us an old Snyder helmet for our collection. The speaking trumpet is seen being carried by chiefs in many archival Snyder photos like the one seen here from a parade in Kenmore held July 28, 1926. Back in the day, fire chiefs carried the trumpet in parades with roses placed inside of it. The trumpet symbolizes leadership as back before radios orders would be given by fire chiefs using a speaking trumpet to amplify what they were saying (emergency scenes can be very loud and chaotic). Over time, the trumpet made its way onto the badges and collar insignia for chief officers and the more trumpets you had, the higher in rank you were.

Address

4531 Main Street
Snyder, NY
14226

Telephone

+17168395000

Website

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